Invention lite England destined for mediocrity
England 0 v Hungary 4
Tuesday 14th June, 2022. Never has the contrasting fortunes of English national sides been more stark. Three months ago English cricket was on its uppers. Bereft of both a Managing Director and Coach its much admired Captain was also in the cross hairs, following a dispiriting defeat away to the West Indies. Whilst Joe Root’s captaincy had at times been wanting it didn’t help that he’d chosen to omit his two most successful fast bowlers, James Anderson and Chris Broad. Add on a batting line up with all the resilience of a chocolate fire guard and the failure of the much lauded “reset” only added to the general air of despond.
Fast forward to Tuesday’s record breaking run chase at Trent Bridge to defeat a strong New Zealand test side and all of a sudden the fortunes of English cricket have been literally turned on their head. And this on the back of a similarly impressive victory in the first test at Lords. Whilst this latest victory was on a track that was “more motorway than B road” in times past, a target of 299 would have cowed England. Batsman would have gone in with a negative mindset - stick around as long as you can and then, if …. and it’s a big if …. you are still in at a point in the game where there are sufficient wickets remaining, we might consider having a dart at the target. In nearly every case this strategy has ended in meek failure. New coach Brendan McCullum and new captain Ben Stokes clearly think differently. If we are going to lose, let’s go down in a blaze of glory. All of a sudden the mindset has been transformed from one of hanging on to one of believing victory is possible. Which is how things turned out.
Would that the same mindset could be applied to English football. Yes this latest series of Nations League games has arrived at the end of a long season. And yes it’s not a tournament that sets the pulse racing. But it is the same for the other teams competing and after a lacklustre campaign England sadly find themselves at the foot of the table.
Just over a year ago Manager Gareth Southgate could do no wrong. He had slain years of disappointment against Germany in tournament football by finally defeating them. Moreover, his functional side had reached the final of a major international tournament for the first time since the World Cup of 1966. But this achievement clouded the subsequent defeat in the final v Italy a game that England should have won. Having taken the lead with a superb opening goal, Southgate’s subsequent cautious approach allowed Italy to dictate affairs and get back into the game. It was the same mindset which allowed for the same outcome v Croatia in the World Cup of 2018. On that occasion he declared that England had to improve in retaining possession only for him to repeat the error three years later. And now Hungary 2022. England’s heaviest defeat on home soil since Hungary last beat us 6-3 in 1953.
Phil Foden is by far England’s most naturally gifted footballer. Yet during this four game series he was on the pitch for a total of 25 minutes. Jack Grealish can do unusual things, but he too spent most of his time on the bench. Footballers who are naturally gifted understand one another, can anticipate what each is likely to do and craft moves which open up defences. Until such time that Southgate accommodates these two and gives them licence to just play, England are destined for mediocrity.
©Mark Brennand